Are John Deer engines (Yanmar) reliable/durable?

[rigoletto]

People,

Need a new rider mower, I guess 42" cutting is about standard. Looking at a Deer. Had an MTD for 27 years and its Tecumseh engine would never quit. Most other mowers offer a B&S and I hear they are not that great(?). Also, I understand it is a diesel, not gas. Is diesel a smart option? And the 2 pedals- does one have to depress them ALL the time during mowing? Opinions appreciated on this subject. ( I have a 2 acre yard)

Which 42" mower would you buy, if you were in my situation?

 

[Bertrrr]

I would get a ZTR with a Kohler or Kawasaki twin cylinder engine , Been using Bad boys for years with no problems, Not a fan of Kubota mowers might be just me but the ones I've had to work on were harder to service than the bad boys or Huskys

 

[MParr]

People,

Need a new rider mower, I guess 42" cutting is about standard. Looking at a Deer. Had an MTD for 27 years and its Tecumseh engine would never quit. Most other mowers offer a B&S and I hear they are not that great(?). Also, I understand it is a diesel, not gas. Is diesel a smart option? And the 2 pedals- does one have to depress them ALL the time during mowing? Opinions appreciated on this subject. ( I have a 2 acre yard)

Which 42" mower would you buy, if you were in my situation?

You aren’t getting a Yanmar Diesel engine in a residential riding mower.

 

[rigoletto]

You aren’t getting a Yanmar Diesel engine in a residential riding mower.

Good to now, Thanks, Mpar. Not sure why that site mentioned diesel..........

 

[MParr]

I believe that Briggs and Stratton makes the single cylinder engines for the 100 Series.
Kawasaki makes the V-Twins.

 

[rigoletto]

I believe that Briggs and Stratton makes the single cylinder engines for the 100 Series.
Kawasaki makes the V-Twins.

Is B&S respected or is Kawasaki the better grade?

 

[MParr]

Is B&S respected or is Kawasaki the better grade?

My sister inherited my dad’s John Deere D100 with a 17.5 B&S engine. It’s at least 20 years old and still running. The deck has been replaced once. If maintained properly, it should give good service.
Better grade? They are residential engines.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

My sister inherited my dad’s John Deere D100 with a 17.5 B&S engine. It’s at least 20 years old and still running. The deck has been replaced once. If maintained properly, it should give good service.
Better grade? They are residential engines.

A Yanmar diesel engine is a strong engine.
I prefer Kawasaki and Kohler over Briggs and Stratton. They all have their good and bad points.
A 48” deck for 2 acres is about right. Should take about an hour or so to mow.

 

[MParr]

A Yanmar diesel engine is a strong engine.
I prefer Kawasaki and Kohler over Briggs and Stratton. They all have their good and bad points.
A 48” deck for 2 acres is about right. Should take about an hour or so to mow.

Yes, the Yanmar engine is very good. However, I don’t think that the OP is looking for a compact tractor or commercial zero turn.
I also agree that a 48” lawn tractor or zero turn would be better for two acres. That puts him on a John Deere with a Kawasaki V-Twin.

 

[rigoletto]

Thanks, people!